Cloud-Barnhart v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 16

Memorandum of Opinion and Order Adopting the Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge (Doc. # 13 ). Objection to Report and Recommendation is over-ruled (Doc. # 14 ). This matter is dismissed without prejudice. Judge John R. Adams on 5/8/17. (K,C)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
EASTERN DIVISION

JOSEPH CLOUD-BARNHART,
Plaintiff,
-vsCOMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL
SECURITY,
Defendant.

) CASE NO. 5:16CV1702-JRA
)
) JUDGE JOHN R. ADAMS
)
)
) MEMORANDUM OF OPINION
) AND ORDER
)
)
)

The Social Security Administration denied Plaintiff Joseph Cloud-Barnhart’s application
for supplemental social security income (“SSI”) under Title XVI of the Social Security Act.
Plaintiff sought review of the Commissioner’s decision, and the case was referred to Magistrate
Judge David A. Ruiz for preparation of a Report and Recommendation (“R&R”) pursuant to 42
U.S.C. §1383(c)(3), 42 U.S.C. §405(g), and Local Rule 72.2(b)(1).

The Magistrate Judge

submitted an R&R that recommends this Court DISMISS the case WITHOUT PREJUDICE as a
result of Plaintiff’s failure to file a brief in this matter. Doc. 13. Defendant filed objections, and
Plaintiff filed a response. Docs. 14, 15. For the following reasons, the Court hereby overrules the
objection and ADOPTS the report and recommendation of the Magistrate Judge.
The R&R adequately states the factual and procedural background of this case. Plaintiff
has demonstrated no error in that background, so the Court will not reiterate those sections herein.

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When a magistrate judge submits an R&R, the Court is required to conduct a de novo
review of the portions of the Report and Recommendation to which an appropriate objection has
been made. 28 U.S.C. §636(b). Objections to the R&R must be specific, not general, in order to
focus the court’s attention upon contentious issues. Howard v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs.,
932 F.2d 505, 509 (6th Cir. 1991).
Here, it is undisputed that Plaintiff did not file a brief in this matter, despite the court’s
order giving him additional time to do so and warning him that his case may be dismissed for
failure to prosecute. While Plaintiff filed objections to the R & R, he does not suggest that a brief
is forthcoming or why he did not timely file the brief when ordered by the court. Plaintiff states
in his objections that he does “not possess the knowledge to contend with the legal jargon presented
by the defendant.” Doc. 14. However this does not justify his failure to file a brief or prosecute
the case. As such, the matter will be dismissed without prejudice.
Based upon the reasons stated herein, the Plaintiff’s objection to the Magistrate Judge’s
Report and Recommendation is OVERRULED. Accordingly, the report and recommendation of
the Magistrate Judge is hereby ADOPTED, and the matter is DISMISSED WITHOUT
PREJUDICE.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATE: May 8, 2017

/s/ John R. Adams_________________
Judge John R. Adams
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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